ABDV has suddenly dropped off the radar as he had a quiet series in England. The reason for this is he is keeping. Fortunately for SA they are a talented team and can still cope with the drop off of a quality player like ABDV. Although he wasn't in the same class as a batsman Alec Stewart was sacrificed for many years to provide "Balance" to the side and his record suffered as a result.

Alec Stewart was one of those "what if?" players imo. England had a fine keeper available in Russell, and I think their efforts to "balance" the side actually did them a disservice, as they compromised Stewart who could have been a gun, and often played a dud middle order bloke instead of Russell who was always nuisance value at worst with the bat.

WWCC - Loyaulte Mi Lie"People make me happy.. not places.. people""When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life." - Samuel Johnson

"Hope is the fuel of progress and fear is the prison in which you put yourself" - Tony Benn

Stewart would have been a great opener if they'd left him there. Was as good a player of pace as anyone in his era. Making him keep and batting him down the order at 5 or 6 was a massive mistake, and they largely did it so they could play mediocre all rounders at 7.

Stewart would have been a great opener if they'd left him there. Was as good a player of pace as anyone in his era. Making him keep and batting him down the order at 5 or 6 was a massive mistake, and they largely did it so they could play mediocre all rounders at 7.

Alec Stewart was one of those "what if?" players imo. England had a fine keeper available in Russell, and I think their efforts to "balance" the side actually did them a disservice, as they compromised Stewart who could have been a gun, and often played a dud middle order bloke instead of Russell who was always nuisance value at worst with the bat.

Totally agree, the other one was Bicknell. He made his debut in 93 when you lot gubbed us and was discarded for 10 years then came back and help beat SA on his own to level a series. If only he had been used as 3rd seamer behind Gough/Caddick we would have been a much better side through the 90's. Wouldn't have been anywhere near the Aussie level but better than the shambles we were at least.